Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Since its Prelinger Archives release, the film has provoked much controversy. Ken Smith, author of Mental Hygiene: Classroom Films 1945 - 1970, believes the film is fake. He mentions, among other things, that the decapitated dog scene shown in the film could have been produced with simple special effects. Smith cites only his reaction to the film as evidence. Others are skeptical of J. B. S. Haldane's ties to the Communist party, they propose that the film was produced as Soviet propaganda.

1 comment:

I just stumbled upon this horific post, and found the film footage of the live dog head.I believe it to be a fake. As mentionned the angle of the shot hides the dog's neck, and I believe it's on purpose, because the dog's head not cut off.

Why do I say that?

It's based on a single observation: the dog's response to sound. We clearly see the head move about. This would be impossible to achieve without a body attached to the head. Neck muscles would move about, but have no link to the rest of the body, therefore making the movement impossible.